Hello summer! From intergalactic adventures to boat parties, artists open studios, open gardens, architecture festivals and more, there’s plenty to see and do in London in June 2016. The Resident rounds up the best events…
1The London Festival of Architecture
The London Festival of Architecture 2016 runs from from 1-30 June with over 200 events taking place across the capital, this year exploring the theme ‘community’. The festival will capture London’s exciting mix of diverse and multi-layered communities and demonstrate the huge appetite among architects, artists, developers and the public to nurture, shape and enrich their city. The line-up includes exhibitions, talks, tours, workshops, installations and debates. From cycling tours and performance sculpture, family building workshops and an exploration of 21st century community centres, to architecture through the eyes of TV documentary and stand-up in the BT Tower.
londonfestivalofarchitecture.org
Get a better understanding of the huge Embassy Gardens project at London Festival of Architecture
2Above & Beyond, National Maritime Museum
Explore the power of flight and innovation in the National Maritime Museum’s brand-new interactive family exhibition, Above and Beyond, presented in association with Boeing. Looking at the history of flight, one thing is clear – the sky was never the limit. From the moment human-kind got off the ground, the race was on to go higher and higher. Now you can experience what space flight is really like and glimpse into its future in the most immersive flight experience to ever tour. Learn to fly like a bird, design and race your own supersonic jet, or even take an elevator ride to the edge of space. Recommended for ages 7+. Friday 27 May–Monday 29 August 2016. £9 Adult | £7 Concession | £6 Child | £26 Family (2 + 2).
Book your tickets now at rmg.co.uk/aboveandbeyond
Journey beyond the skies at Above & Beyond at the National Maritime Museum
3Open Garden Squares Weekend
Open Garden Squares Weekend returns from 18-19 June to offer a glimpse of London’s most exclusive green spaces. From the innovative, historical and prestigious, to the best-kept secrets, the 2016 gardens include exclusive private squares and magnificent rooftop gardens, as well as barges, pop-up orchards and diminutive hidden spaces.
opensquares.org
Open Garden Squares Weekend
4For The Record: 60s Pop Through The Lens
For The Record: 60s Pop Through The Lens celebrates some of the most iconic faces of 60s music captured by photographer Stanley Bielecki. From Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Ginger Baker, through to The Zombies and The Supremes, the exhibition offers a fascinating insight into the groundbreaking 60s pop boom. Never exhibited before, and some never published, these images offer a reminder of a pivotal moment in music history. A must-see for fans of modern music and photography, this is also an opportunity to acquire a rare image in support of the Alzheimer’s Society. Bielecki is now one of the 850,000 people in the UK suffering from the disease and proceeds from print sales will be donated to the Society.
The exhibition runs from 3-5 June at 5 Addison Avenue W11 4QS; stanleybielecki.com
For The Record: 60s Pop Through The Lens, The Zombies
5Kindred Studios Open Studios
Last April, a colossal concrete building of 14,000 sq ft, once hidden under Westway, opened its doors to painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, illustrators, filmmakers, glass-artists, printmakers, jewellers and many more, and has now blossomed into a vibrant creative collective, Kindred Studios. From 24-26 June you will have the chance to meet the artists and feel inspired as they hold an Open Studios event, with activities suitable for all the family.
69 St Marks Road W10 6JB; kindredstudios.co.uk
See artists like Olivia Streeton at Kindred Studios Open Studios
6Art Antiques London
Art Antiques London returns to Kensington Gardens for the seventh consecutive year from 24-30 June. Over 60 specialist international dealers will be showcasing their finest creations including furniture, paintings, jewellery, and ceramics. Organised by the London-based international fair organisers, Anna and Brian Haughton the fair takes place in a purpose-built pavilion at Albert Memorial West Lawn, Kensington Gardens, London SW7.
artantiqueslondon.com
Discover period jewellery by Licht & Morrison at Art Antiques London
7Banished, a new opera for Trinity Laban students
Award-winning composer Stephen McNeff and librettist Olivia Fuchs have joined forces to create a brand new opera for Trinity Laban students. Based on the true story of the first female prisoners transported to Australia in the early 19th century, Banished tells the story of how a group of people join to overcome their differences and survive adversity. See it at Blackheath Halls from 29 June to 2 July. Tickets £15, concs £12.
trinitylaban.ac.uk/banished
Banished is a new opera for Trinity Laban students
8The Moscow State Circus
The Moscow State Circus returns to the UK with its greatest production to date, based on the Russian folklore story of Cvetik-Semicvetik. Wizard Wacko and his crazy sidekick Natalia Mezentceva invite the audience into a wondrous enchanted garden where magnificent feats of human achievement take place. This year’s show features, among others, the award-winning Troupe Leontiv on the flying parallel bars. 27 May-5 June.
Lillie Road Recreation Ground SW6 7PD; 0844 856 5555; moscowstatecircus.com
Moscow State Circus
9Louise Bourgeois at Tate Modern’s new gallery
Louise Bourgeois will be the first artist presented in Tate Modern’s new gallery space dedicated to ARTIST ROOMS. The exhibition will be one of the highlights of the new Tate Modern that will open to the public on 17 June. The first dedicated space to ARTIST ROOMS will continue beyond 2016 to host fascinating exhibitions drawn from the work of the 40 artists in the collection.
tate.org.uk
The Tate Modern’s new gallery
10Brockley Max
The Brockley Max arts festival returns for the 15th year, running from 27 May until 4 June with a packed programme of gigs, films, exhibitions, theatre and kids activities across venues in Brockley, Crofton Park, Honor Oak Park and Ladywell. The festival launches at 4pm on Friday 27 May with a free alfresco Opening Night concert featuring local musicians. See the website for the full programme, which includes Brockleywood Nights, an outdoor film evening, and Art in the Park with workshops, storytelling, magic, a craft market and live music.
brockleymax.co.uk
Brockley Max (Mellz Photography)
11Cockpit Arts Open Studios
Cockpit Arts Summer Open studios takes place in Deptford over the weekend of 10-12 June. Discover some 170 designer-makers jeweller Hannah Bedford and Julian Sykes ceramics. Running Friday 11am-9pm and 11am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Free entry, donations welcome.
cockpitarts.com
See jewellery by Jo Hayes Ward at Cockpit Arts Open Studios
12The HOUSE Fair
The HOUSE Fair in association with House & Garden is now in its second year and has quickly become London’s favourite consumer event for audiences looking for unique interiors and design. Held at Olympia from 22-25 June, The HOUSE Fair will feature over 100 inspiring brands covering kitchens, lighting and furniture, through to floor and wall coverings, decorative accessories, and interior and garden design.
thehousefair.com
Discover unique furniture by the likes of Jonathan Field at The HOUSE Fair
13Hampton Court Palace Festival
Once again, Hampton Court Palace Festival has conjured up quite the line-up. From 8-23 June, Henry VIII’s Tudor courtyard will play host to, among others, Sir Tom Jones (who opens the festival on 8 June, and will also perform on 15-16 June), Katherine Jenkins (23 June) and the King of boogie-woogie, Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra (10 June).
hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com
See Tom Jones at Hampton Court Palace Festival
14LIFT 2016
LIFT has travelled the world to curate a very special playlist of performances, politics and pop culture, heading to London from 1 June-2 July. Meet Japanese pop fans, an outré performance star, a body builder, and teenagers with attitude; waltz, keep secrets, see a brass band and take revenge; visit Roma musicians, refugees, ancient Greeks, a Victorian musical hall and a circus in a cemetery where the undead welcome you in… LIFT 2016 celebrates the world in London, and London in the world.
liftfestival.com
Taylor Mac, LIFT
15Winifred Knights at Dulwich Picture Gallery
Inspired by the masterpieces of Italian Early Renaissance artists, painstakingly exact in her working methods, and even declared a genius, Winifred Knights (1899-1947) was one of the most pioneering female British artists of the early 20th century. The first major retrospective of the award-winning artist, this exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery showcases works such as the apocalyptic masterpiece The Deluge, 1920, which attracted immense critical acclaim, Running from 8 June until 18 September. Adults, £12.50, concs £7.
Gallery Road SE21 7AD; 020 8693 5254; dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk
Winifred Knights, The Deluge, 1920, Oil on canvas, 152.29 x 183.5 cm (© Tate, London 2016; © The Estate of Winifred Knights)
16The Artists at Home
The weekend of 17-19 June will provide a unique opportunity for the public to visit up to 70 local artists in their home-based studios. The Artists at Home event is now well established in the local calendar and is hugely popular, attracting new artists and visitors every year. ‘The wonderful thing about Artists at Home is the diversity,’ says Jeff Hoare, renowned artist and one of the first people to take part since its launch in 1973. ‘The works cover every type of medium imaginable and the artists themselves have such varied experience.’
artistsathome.net
See work by Tania Beaumont at Artists at Home
17Jazz in the garden
On 19 June the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra – with special guests Georgie Fame, Claire Martin (pictured below), Guy Barker and Vanessa Haynes – journeys from its home in Soho to the open air theatre of Chiswick House & Gardens. It will offer visitors a chance to enjoy an evening of musical performances and taste the Ronnie Scott’s experience, and is sure to be the ultimate jazz and blues event of the summer.
Chiswick House & Gardens W4 2RP; 020 3697 5716; chgt.org.uk
See Claire Martin at Jazz in the Garden
18Conchord Festival
Head to St Mary’s Church on Twickenham Riverside from 10-12 June to hear some of the best chamber music anywhere in the UK. The exciting new Conchord Festival will run alongside the Twickenham Carnival, offering an extraordinary weekend of possibilities. The festival is down to two of the UK’s best classical performers, Emily and Daniel Pailthorpe. Described at 17 as ‘the Jacqueline du Pré of the oboe’, Emily is highly sought after for recital and session work, and Daniel is renowned for the mellow tone of his wooden flute and regularly appears as principal flute at the BBC Proms.
conchord.co.uk/conchordfestival
The Conchord Ensemble
19Camberwell Open House
Camberwell College of Arts invites you to take part in free art and design workshops for all ages at its annual Open House event on 25 June, from 11am-5pm. Taking place at Camberwell College of Arts’ two sites – Wilson Road and Peckham Road – workshops will include darkroom experience, screen printing, face painting, bookbinding, letterpress, and much more. It’s also a great chance to look round the Summer Shows. Supported by CRAFT (Camberwell Residential Academic & Fellowship Trust) and UAL Widening Participation.
Camberwell College of Arts at Peckham Road SE5 8UF & Wilson Road SE5 8LU; events.arts.ac.uk
Take part in creative workshops at Camberwell Open House
20Lincoln Seligman at Osborne Studio Gallery
Osborne Studio Gallery will be hosting the work of Lincoln Seligman until 13 June, which captures the wonder of his travels in India. It’s a feast for the senses as Seligman offers up flowing turbans, maharajas in rollers, landscapes, seashores and carefree glimpses of people from all walks of life.
2 Motcomb Street SW1X 8JU; 020 7235 9667; osg.uk.com
Lincoln Seligman
21The Boodles
Now into its 15th year, The Boodles is often described as ‘one of the highlights of the summer social season’, so no wonder it attracts some of the biggest names in tennis for a pre-Wimbledon workout. Hosted within Stoke Park’s stunning 300-acre estate in the Buckinghamshire countryside, there is an intimate 1,900 seat purpose built stadium, meaning you will be breathtakingly close to all the action. The Boodles takes place from 21-25 June.
For tickets see theboodles.com
22Pooya Aryanpour at Sophia Contemporary
Pooya Aryanpour will be bringing his abstract art to Mayfair with an exhibition opening at Sophia Contemporary on 9 June. It’s a stunning show of colour and line, form and content, all uniting to create a mysterious whole infused with mysticism and suspense.
sophiacontemporary.com
See Pooya Aryanpour at Sophia Contemporary
23Open Art Spaces
Now into its fourth year, Open Art Spaces – a local art festival in Chelsea, Kensington and Fulham – will take place over two weekends between 24 June-3 July. The festival is about celebrating the artistic culture and creative energy of West London, while promoting neighbourhood businesses and engaging the community. Visitors can experience and purchase the work of their local artists within the very spaces in which they are created.
openartspaces.com
Open Art Spaces
24Mondo’s First Birthday Bash
Mondo Brewing Company is turning one, and they are going to celebrate! Join them at the Tap House for a day of tomfoolery, birthday shenanigans, and, of course, delicious beer. Add food trucks and friends and we are ready to raise a glass to a successful first 12 months in Battersea. They’ll have all your favourites on tap, along with some very rare guest beers in from breweries who have helped or influenced them in their first year. Plus they will be tapping their latest brew: Geronimo Double IPA – a whopper at 9%. Don’t miss this, it’s going to be a great day. Saturday 28 May, 2-10pm.
86-92 Stewart’s Road SW8 4UG; mondobrewingcompany.com
Mondo Brewery’s Tap House in Battersea
25Raven Art Society’s Summer Exhibition
Ghislaine Nassif, entrepreneurial art collector and curator, will be hosting the fascinating Inversions works of celebrated artist Alexander de Cadenet alongside photographer Maxime Aliaga (worked pictured below) in this year’s Raven Art Society’s Summer Exhibition from 8-29 June, sponsored by John D Wood & Co. In this exhibition the Inversions series by de Cadenet are photos of desert plants and flowers in the Majave Desert in California, and Aliaga’s work comes from months of a scientific exhibition in Papua New Guinea.
41 Albert Bridge Road SW11 4PZ; 07837 735087. By inviation only. Email ghislainenassif@ravenartsociety.com
See work by photographer Maxime Aliaga
26Cally Festival
Running the expanse of the entire road, this year’s Cally Festival in Islington is set to be a lively mix of talent, fun and music, with community spirit tying the whole affair together. Around 9,000 people attended last year’s frivolous festivities which brought people from Holloway, King’s Cross and both east and west of Caledonian Road together. It’s a family affair with events and workshops for children and adults with bubbles and balloons floating over head, the smell of sugar in the air and an eclectic mix of music sounding from every corner.
Click here to find out more
The Cally Festival is a celebration of community and diversity
27Taste of London
Taste of London returns to Regent’s Park from 15-19 June with another exceptional line-up of top chefs, exciting restaurants, live cooking demonstrations, interactive culinary features and unmissable entertainment. Top names due to appear include two Michelin-starred Nathan Outlaw, world-renowned Pierre Koffmann and our food profile later in this magazine, Ben Tish. If that’s not enough to entice, then food enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice with more than 200 taster-sized signature dishes from 40 of London’s best restaurants on offer to sample.
tasteoflondon.co.uk
Taste of London, Gaucho
28Shakespeare in Ten Acts
A major new exhibition at the British Library, Shakespeare in Ten Acts, looks at how Shakespeare became ‘the Bard’ by focusing on ten key performances. These ‘Ten Acts’ are not necessarily the most famous performances, but moments in history that changed the course of Shakespeare’s legacy. Shakespeare in Ten Acts, which runs until 6 September, will look at how our most famous playwright’s course never did run smooth, tracing his rises and falls in reputation.
96 Euston Road NW1 2DB; bl.uk
See Vivien Leigh in Shakespeare in Ten Acts
29The Band Photographs 1968-1969
Proud Camden presents The Band Photographs 1968-1969, an exclusive collection of both iconic and never-before-seen photographs documenting the making of the group’s first two albums, Music from Big Pink and The Band, through the lens of close friend and renowned photographer Elliott Landy. Running from 9 June-24 July, this is an exhibition that will showcase a unique relationship between artist and subject that is rarely seen in documentary photography.
The Horse Hospital, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road NW1 8AH; proud.co.uk
To record The Band album, they wanted to play together in one room: to be a band
30HSDY Boat Party
A fabulous afternoon of 70s & 80s soul, funk and disco with Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet! aboard MV Royalty. After last year’s hugely popular debut boat party, HSDY – the disco for those who remember the tunes the first time round and still want to party – is taking to the Thames once more with vinyl DJ Da’Lynne spinning the tunes and nautically themed dance line-ups (In the Navy, Rock the Boat etc) to get everyone up and dancing on Sunday 26 June 2016. If you like boat trips and you like disco, this is for you. Prizes for the best outfits. Tickets £25. 10% profits to Cancer Research UK. 3pm-6pm. Boat departs from Greenwich Pier.
haventstoppeddancingyet.co.uk
The HSDY boat party